Toy vehicle



G. DAVIS TOY VEHICLE Aug. 16, 1938.

Filed Dec. 5, 1956 grower Qfi c ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to toy vehicles, and its general object is to provide a polyoycle toy, in the form of a horse, that closely approaches the riding actions of a real horse in that it is capable of Simulating the galloping action thereof when riding and propelling the same, and is guided and responds in the same manner as .a real horse, therefore the toy will afford much amusement and fun to the rider.

A further object is to provide a polycycle toy in the form of a horse, that can be easily handled, propelled and guided by children, is strong and sturdy, but light in weight, and is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely efiicient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that the body of my toy includes a front section I and a rear section 2, both of which are relatively narrow and are hinged together by strap hinges 3 that have the leaf portions thereof embedded within the sections and fixed accordingly by suitable securing means, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The front section is shaped to simulate the forward portion of a body of a horse, the neck and the head thereof, while the rear section is shaped to simulate the major portion of the body, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 1. Fixed to the front section adjacent its juncture with the rear section, are the front legs 4, and fixed to the rear section at the rear end thereof are the rear legs 5. Each pair of legs is secured to the respective sections, by suitable securing means 6, and the rear legs are disposed in diverging relation and held accordingly by wedge blocks 1, as shown in Figure 3.

Bridging the lower ends of the rear legs 5 and preferably fixed therein as well as passing therethrough to extend beyond the same, is an axle 8 which has journaled thereon the rear wheels 9,

while journaled in the lower ends of the front legs 4 is a shaft 10 having fixed to the outer ends thereof oppositely disposed crank arms ll which have openings in the outer ends thereof for a purpose which will be presently described. J ournaled on the shaft ll] between the front legs is a wheel I2 which of course provides the front wheel of the vehicle or toy, and it will be noted from Figure 1 that the front wheel has its hub eccentrically mounted, so that when the toy is being propelled in a manner which will be presently described, the body will be caused to oscillate in a manner to simulate galloping. The wheels may have rubber tires 13 secured to the rims thereof.

The sections are preferably covered with sheet metal, as shown in Figure 3, but in any event they are painted or otherwise decorated to simulate the markings of a horse, and the same is true with respect to the legs. The head portion has the eyes and other characters of a horse painted or otherwise disposed thereon, as well as stripes to simulate a bridle, and the sections are further decorated as at I4 to simulate portions of a saddle, while secured to the rear section by screws or like means, is a seat I5 that provides the remaining portion of the saddle. The neck and rear section has hair secured thereto to simulate the mane and tail of a horse, and from Figure 1 it will be readily noted that the features of a horse in its entirety are well represented.

Cooperating with the crank arms II for propelling the toy, are V-shaped members 16 that terminate at their rear endsin bearings H which are mounted upon the rear axle 8, and the forward or apex ends of the members i6 having stirrups l 8 secured thereto, the stirrups being formed from strap material looped upon itself and held accordingly by pins l9 which have secured thereto one of the ends of cables 20, while the opposite ends of the cables are secured to the outer ends of the crank arms II. The cables are trained over grooved pulleys 2| which are journaled on the ends of bracket strips 22 which preferably extend through the section 2 for disposal upon the opposite sides thereof, as best shown in Figure 2, it being obvious that the strips 22 are fixed to the sections and that the pulleys 2| act as guides for the cables. A strap 23 providing a bridle rein has its ends fixed to the mouth portion of the head, through the medium of staples or the like 24, and the strap 23 is of a length to reach the seat l5 so as to be in convenient reach of the rider.

From the above description and disclosure of the drawing, it will be obvious that I have provided a polycycle toy in the form of a horse, and in propelling the same the rider places his feet within the stirrups. By giving the stirrups an alternate up and down movement, the cables are acted upon accordingly, which will result in rotating the front wheel through the instrumentality of the crank arms, and it will be further obvious that the toy is guided by the strap 23.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is: A polycycle toy in the form of a horse and comprising a body including a rear section, .a front section hinged to the rear section, legs secured to and depending from each section, axles bridging the legs, wheels journaled on the rear axle, a wheel fixed to the front axle and eccentrically mounted with respect thereto, oppositely disposed crank arms fixed to the ends of the front axle, V-shaped members having bearings in their remote ends and mounted on the rear axle for reciprocation, said V-shaped members extending forwardly from the rear axle, straps looped upon themselves, pins securing the straps in looped formation to provide stirrups secured to the apex extremities of the V-shaped members, bracket strips disposed one above and rearwardly of the other and extending through the rear section, "grooved pulleys secured to the ends of the bracket strips for disposal upon opposite sides of the body, cables trained over the grooved pulleys and having'their ends secured to the pins of the stirrups and the crank arms respectively and guiding means for the toy and secured to the front section.

GROVER DAVIS. 

